Villa Imperiale's Ancient Wine Cellars Open to Public in Pesaro

The ancient wine cellars of Villa Imperiale in Pesaro, Italy, have been restored and opened to the public starting August 27, 2026. The project, curated by Alessandra Castelbarco Albani and designed by PLUS ULTRA studio, transforms the underground spaces into a permanent exhibition exploring the villa's relationship with its surrounding landscape. The villa complex originated in the 15th century with the Villa Sforzesca and expanded in the 16th century with the Villa Roveresca, designed by Girolamo Genga for Francesco Maria I della Rovere and Eleonora Gonzaga. The exhibition is organized around five systems: the woods, water, architecture, productive activities of Casa Albani, and the agricultural landscape. It features archival materials alongside contemporary works, including a video by No Text Azienda, a sound piece by A Teardrop Sound, and an image atlas by Federico Villa. The cellars were part of a broader productive network that included vineyards, olive groves, sulfur mines, paper mills, and ceramic workshops. Castelbarco Albani described the space as a 'laboratory of anthropological geography' where traces of how the villa and its territory were lived and transformed are collected. The opening marks a significant step in reinterpreting the villa's historical and environmental context.